Author Topic: Downstream vs Upstream (Read 3247 times)

sokukodo · « **on:** February 02, 2009, 07:01:11 PM »

One thing that I've always wondered: why are upstream numbers always so much less than downstream? For instance, I'm getting 5.7 Mb/s downstream, 498 Kb/s upstream; shouldn't they be the same if the same line is being used? I'm also wondering about latency: what is it? The last test I ran indicated my ping was 68ms ... I don't know whether I should be looking for a high number or a low number.

sandbox · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2009, 07:19:54 PM »

Download does not add potential volume access, upload does. if you want to increase upload capacity you most likely will be required to buy more service, a three-way package, (tV phone, and web) or buy a commercial account, as I did. If your not locate in a commercial area a commercial account may not be available to you.

sokukodo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2009, 07:30:51 PM »

There's not much available where I live (the rural south) ... oh well.

jcarter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2009, 08:01:31 PM »

I would guess its because most people are downloading much more stuff than uploading?
Jane

sokukodo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2009, 08:48:18 PM »

I can download lickety-split; emailing photos takes a LOT longer.

tacit · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2009, 10:28:09 PM »

Almost all broadband ISPs give you more download bandwidth than upload bandwidth because the vast majority of Internet users download far more than they upload. Yes, they're both going over the same wire, but on different signals.

Latency is the amount of time that goes by between the instant your computer sends out a signal to the ISP or to a server computer, and the instant that signal is received by the ISP or the server computer. Signals do not go over the network instantaneously; they take a while to arrive at their destination. Latency tends to be especially bad with satellite broadband, because the signal has to go to a transmitter facility, get beamed up to a satellite 26,000 miles away, get beamed back down, and then get converted from a radio signal back into an electrical signal again.

What does latency actually mean? The longer the latency, the longer it will take between the time when you type a Web address in your address bar and the time the site starts to load. In games, it means that when you push the button to shoot your gun, your character will shoot a short time (or, if the latency is high, a long time) after you push the button. If you are using a Webcam, there will be a delay between when you do something and when the person on the other end sees it; there's a time lag in the picture.

Mayo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2009, 02:01:23 AM »

I've have been told that broadband ISPs limit the uploading speed to discourage people from running commercial servers on a standard cable account. Beats me if that is true or not... As Tacit wrote, average users are primarily concerned with the download speed. As long as the minimum upload speed supports video-chat, Everything Is Good.

As far as latency goes... friends who live in a nearby rural area where satellite service is the only broadband option cannot avail themselves to use iChat. The latency period is so long that iChat loses the connection. It has been awhile since I dealt with the problem, but that is my recollection of what was going on at the time.

sandbox · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2009, 02:38:53 AM »

Your right Mayo, it is used to discourage folks from being suppliers rather than consumers. If you want to be a supplier you have to buy the bandwidth capability. My original account allowed me 10mb down and 1up as long as i used the full package, tv, phone and modem, but when I dumped the phone and tv they reduced my bandwidth to a claimed 7mb down and 750k up which never reached full capacity even at 3am. As a result of not having an optional provider I was forced to upgrade my service to a commercial account. 15mb down 2mb up with a static IP.

sokukodo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2009, 07:23:28 AM »

So am I correct in assuming that slow upstream speed is simply a business decision made by the provider? Hmm.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2009, 09:51:41 AM »

All they have to 'sell' is speed and reliability. The more of each you want, the more you pay. Splitting it this way allows the majority to be 'satisfied' without having to pay for what they don't usually need. The way the game is being played, I think we're lucky to even get this much of a break!

"Keep the masses ignorant of what they could have and they'll be happy enough not to revolt." And, if any of them find out, offer to 'sell' them and make a little extra profit along the way. Sounds like a business plan to me!

Sasha · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2009, 09:39:00 AM »

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Feb 3 2009, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All they have to 'sell' is speed and reliability.

Does this have anything to do with all the bandwidth that will become available when TV stations convert to digital ... in June ... ? Or is this apples and oranges?

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2009, 03:11:15 PM »

The following is generalized and just my attempt to explain things the way I would understand them. They do not reflect the views of this site or any of its members. And remember, no electrons were harmed in it creation.

QUOTE

Or is this apples and oranges

Pretty much different 'fruit.' The digital change-over will simply allow more transmitters (of any kind) in the same amount of 'bandwidth' now used for a single TV station. This is being done not to increase signal speed but to get the extra channels and provide better protection and continuity for emergency operations. They are still radio signals, which are usually though of as waves. The big difference is that these waves can be much narrower because they will be carrying only two bits of information; ON or OFF, 1 or 0. Their speed is still approximately the speed of light. :-) So there is no gain it 'bandwidth' in that sense. But the signal is much simpler and therefore faster to decode, so the screen can be kept filled even with more lines on it than now and this, in part, creates a much better picture.

"Bandwidth" to an ISP (or a customer) is a little more like how many bytes/bits are used (uploading or downloading) in a specific amount of time. Usually the time is 30 days and the amount can be used in one day or spread over the entire period. Of course, if too many people tried to use all their "bandwidth" allotment in one day, many bad things would probably happen! One of which would be the user being denied further access for a specific period of time, like forever!

ISPs provide different 'packages' for different needs. An Internet business would probably need more bandwidth than a casual user. A site that supports downloading large files (movies, graphics, etc.) would need more outgoing bandwidth than incoming, just the revers of the business or casual user I mentioned. And, like most things, when a business discovers a need, they will charge as much as possible for it. :-)

krissel · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2009, 10:58:07 PM »

Sasha, the 'bandwidth' discussed which is being freed by the digital TV switch is basically in the airwaves or cable TV. DSL, cable internet and dialup are wired and for the most part separate from the TV signals. The only connection is if the cable companies find more 'space' on their wires once they drop analog TV signals. DSL and dialup are not affected.

So it is a fruit salad.

Sasha · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2009, 10:06:59 PM »

Good info; thanks.

As a not-so-proud consumer of satellite internet service, I can FYI you that HughesNet breaks its customers' fingers for exceeding daily limits; WildBlue allows 30 days ... much saner, IMO.

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Author Topic: Downstream vs Upstream (Read 3247 times)